The new action ‘Support for SMEs in Strategic Technologies for Europe (STEP) and Defense & Security (Defence)’ of the ‘Competitiveness 2021-2027’ Program has been pre-announced, with a total budget of €80,000,000.
This Call aims to support investment plans in businesses operating in critical technologies of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) and in Defense technologies, with the purpose of supporting the development or production of critical technologies in the EU, ensuring and strengthening their respective value chains, and enhancing and promoting industrial/dual-use defense capabilities, as well as creating employment.
Specific objectives:
- Digital technologies and innovation in the field of advanced technology
- Clean and resource-efficient technologies
- Biotechnologies
- Application of innovations and production of defense industry products by businesses
- Strengthening the domestic defense industry
- Development and production of dual-use systems/technologies.
- Job Creation
It concerns Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises which must meet the following basic conditions:
- To have at least one (1) complete closed financial year before the date of electronic submission of the funding application.
- To possess the eligible NACE code(s) before the date of electronic submission of the funding application.
- The investment must exclusively concern eligible NACE code(s).
- To have at least one (1) full-time equivalent employee during the calendar year preceding the submission of the funding application. This will be confirmed based on the declared data maintained for the business in the ERGANI information system.
The minimum budget for the Investment Plan in STEP/Defense areas is €50,000 and the maximum budget is €400,000 for existing businesses and €300,000 for new/under establishment businesses.
In any case, the amount of aid cannot exceed €200,000.
The aid intensity ranges from 50% to 67%, and the maximum aid limit cannot exceed €200,000.
The maximum duration for the completion of the physical and financial scope of the business plan cannot exceed eighteen (18) months from the date of electronic notification of the final approval of the funding application.
The eligibility start date for expenses is defined as the publication date of the Call.
- Salary costs for newly hired personnel
- Production & Mechanical Equipment
- Green Expenses
- Laboratory Equipment
- Electric Transport
- Building Works
- Service Provision Expenses
- Software Expenses
- Promotion, Marketing & Networking Expenses
- Indirect Expenses
The submission deadline and method, required supporting documents, obligations of beneficiaries, application evaluation criteria, and other implementation terms will be described in the Detailed Call for the Action.
